- Germany vs. Poland (9 p.m. CEST/3 p.m. ET on ESPN): While England-Wales might be the most anticipated Euro match on Thursday, this one might feature the heavier hitters. Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski will see a number of familiar faces when the two teams take the field at the Stade de France. Both Poland and Germany have opening match wins to their credit, which means if either team can take all three points, they'll be atop Group C and virtually assured passage to the round of 16.

Three key points

1. Didier Deschamps made a big choice to drop Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann for France's last-gasp 2-0 victory over Albania. But he also made a big decision to bring them both on at 0-0. "Neither he [Griezmann] nor Pogba is happy," he revealed after the match. "Often players who come off the bench can make the difference. That was the case in the opening match and again here.'' Once again, though, Les Bleus didn't give up. Once again, they showed incredible mental strength and character. Once again they won the game in the dying seconds.

3. Brazil may be out of the Copa but they are still making waves. Corinthians president Roberto de Andrade has announced Tite has agreed to succeed Dunga as the country's manager, although the Brazilian federation says no accord has been struck with any coach. Klinsmann, the U.S. coach, has but one message for his side as they prepare for a quarterfinal clash with Ecuador: "We tell them tomorrow, be courageous, go at them. It's a 90-minute battle."

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Player of the day

There's really only one person to go with Thursday, and it's Gareth Bale. Mainly because we are comparing the Welsh maestro to very famous poet, writer and broadcaster from the same country: Dylan Thomas. Well, Dylan's granddaughter is.

In her own words: "What Dylan did have, and Bale also has, is a drive, a desire to be the best. Dylan could spend days, weeks, even years on one poem. It had to be perfect."